Pampanga folks urge: Fix collapsed bridge

MASANTOL, Pampanga— Thousands of residents of this municipality and the neighboring town of Macabebe, also in this province, urged the national government to hasten the repair and rehabilitation of the Colgante Bridge in Apalit town that collapsed after a convoy of four trucks carrying quarry materials passed and wrecked it.

The bridge is the main land travel link to the said towns that is why thousands of residents are now isolated.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said for now the only alternative route for the residents and other motorists to get to Macabebe and Masantol is the small part of the Arnedo Dike traversing Calumpit, Bulacan, Apalit and Macabebe.

The trucks loaded with quarry materials such as sand and gravel were heading to Barangay CaduangTete in Macabebe town for the ongoing construction of farm to market road in the Macabebe-Masantol part of the national highway.

It was learned that Colgantebridge had a total net capacity of only 14 tons, but the trucks weighed at 120 tons combined.

Engineer Namer Fernandez, owner of the trucks, said that each truck weighed at least 30 tons, including its load of quarry materials.

Fernandez said he is willing to cooperate with the investigating authorities to determine to cause of the bridge destruction.

The vehicles and drivers involved in the incident were listed in police records as Miguel Mina of the truck with license plates UPY-411; Allan Cudia, TTN-860; and Mario Cruz, WCE -191.

No one was hurt but the truck drivers and their companions had to be assisted as two of the trucks fell on their side and the third leaned on the side of the bridge in Barangay Colgante.
The DPWH has already vowed that they would investigate the bridge’s collapse.